e425
Filed by Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended
and deemed filed pursuant to
Rule 14a-6
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Subject Company: Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
Commission File No.:
333-143349
August 22, 2007
Dear Sharesave Scheme participant:
The Clear Channel Sharesave Scheme
1 Introduction
You are receiving this letter because you hold an option to
acquire shares of the common stock of Clear Channel
Communications (CCU) granted under The Clear
Channel Sharesave Scheme (the Scheme).
A special meeting of the shareholders of CCU is scheduled to
occur on September 25, 2007 at which shareholders in CCU
will vote on the proposed merger of CCU with BT Triple Crown
Merger Co., Inc (Merger Sub), a wholly owned
subsidiary of CC Media Holdings Inc
(Holdings). If shareholders representing
two-thirds or more of our issued shares vote in favour of the
merger, we intend to complete the merger of CCU and Merger Sub
by the end of 2007.
The purpose of this letter is to explain the impact of the
merger on the option that you hold and the choices now available
to you.
2 Proposal
You can elect to surrender your option conditional upon the
merger becoming effective in which case your option will be
cancelled. In return you will receive a cash payment, calculated
as set out below. Alternatively you may instead elect to receive
shares of Class A Common Stock of Holdings
(Holdings Stock). In either case you may
receive an additional cash payment if the merger becomes
effective after January 1, 2008, as further described in
the proxy statement/prospectus enclosed with this letter.
Cash Payment: For each share that you would
have received, had you closed your savings account and exercised
your option on 1 February 2008, you will receive a cash
payment (before deduction of any income tax and national
insurance) of U.S.$39.20 per share (converted into pounds
sterling at the prevailing exchange rate on the date the merger
becomes effective) less the exercise price payable by you in
respect of that option (which is £17.22 per share). For
indicative purposes only, the pound sterling equivalent of
U.S.$39.20 at August 22, 2007 is approximately £19.69,
but this may of course be subject to change between now and the
date on which the merger becomes effective. If you elect the
cash payment, you will be mailed a cheque for the amount of the
cash payment within two business days of the date on which the
merger becomes
effective.1
YOU WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS CASH PAYMENT IF YOU
COMPLETE THE ENCLOSED FORM OF ELECTION (OPTIONS) BY MAKING
A CASH ELECTION AND RETURN THE COMPLETED ELECTION FORM SO THAT
IT IS RECEIVED BY CCU NO LATER THAN 10:00 PM, BRITISH
SUMMER TIME (BST), ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2007, THE DATE
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE SPECIAL
MEETING.
Holdings Stock alternative: Alternatively, you
may elect to receive Holdings Stock in lieu of some or all of
your cash payment, subject to the prorations and individual cap
as described in the proxy statement/prospectus enclosed with
this letter. The number of shares of Holdings Stock you will be
entitled to receive will be calculated in the same manner as the
cash payment. Please note that, after the merger, shares of
Holdings Stock will not be listed on the New York Stock Exchange
or any other recognized securities exchange in the United States
or Europe. It is anticipated that, following the merger, the
shares of Holdings Stock will be quoted on the Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board. Because at least 70% of the shares of
Holdings Stock will be held by a small number of private equity
funds and the shares of Holdings Stock not so held will only be
traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, it is likely
that Holdings Stock will be thinly traded and subject to wide
fluctuations in its price. If you
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If you make an election to receive either the cash payment
or the Holdings Stock alternative described below and the merger
closes after January 1, 2008, you will also be entitled to
receive additional cash merger consideration as further
described in the proxy statement/prospectus enclosed with this
letter.
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properly complete and timely deliver the election form and
letter of transmittal referred to below, you will receive your
merger consideration no later than twenty days following the
date on which the merger becomes effective.
TO RECEIVE HOLDINGS STOCK FOR SOME OR ALL OF YOUR OPTION,
YOU MUST SUBMIT THE ENCLOSED FORM OF ELECTION (OPTIONS)
SPECIFYING (A) THE NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING SUCH OPTION
THAT YOU DESIRE TO CONVERT INTO CASH, IF ANY, AND (B) THE
NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING SUCH OPTION THAT YOU DESIRE TO
CONVERT INTO HOLDINGS STOCK. PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE
ENCLOSED FORM OF ELECTION (OPTIONS) AND THE ENCLOSED LETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL (OPTIONS) AND RETURN BOTH COMPLETED DOCUMENTS SO
THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED BY CCU NO LATER THAN 10:00 PM, BST,
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2007, THE DATE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE
OF THE SPECIAL MEETING.
All election forms should be returned to CCU at 33 Golden
Square, London, W1F 9JT, attention of Karen Rogers, Director of
Human Resources.
It is currently anticipated that the merger will become
effective, if at all, before the end of December 2007 but it is
possible that the merger may occur on or after January 1,
2008. Please note that if the merger does not occur until after
1 February 2008 (the normal first date for exercise for
option holders who have not missed any monthly payments into
their savings accounts), then the fact that you may have already
submitted a form of election will not prejudice your ability to
exercise your option on or after that date in accordance with
its terms.
If you do exercise your option before the merger occurs, you
will be free to sell the shares of CCU common stock that you
acquire in the market in the usual way. If, however, you still
hold your shares at the time the merger takes place, you will
automatically receive the cash consideration of US$39.20 per
share, whether or not you previously elected to take Holdings
Stock on cancellation of your option.
If you elect to surrender your option, you may, if you wish,
once the merger has become effective and your option has been
cancelled, make arrangements to continue your savings contract
and at the end of your savings period, receive your savings and
tax free bonus. Alternatively, you may close your account and
your savings will be returned to you. If you would like to close
your savings account, please contact Karen Rogers, Director of
Human Resources at 020 7478 2233, who will provide you
with the relevant form of instruction.
Please note that you will only be able to surrender your option
if such option remains valid and has not lapsed as at the date
the merger becomes effective. If you cease employment before the
merger becomes effective, your option may lapse (depending on
the circumstances in which you leave).
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Alternative
courses of action
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You do not have to make the election described at 2 above if you
do not want to. If you do not make the election however, you may
not subsequently get the opportunity to exercise your option at
a time when the shares of CCU common stock that you will receive
are tradable and can be easily sold for cash. If the merger
takes place (as anticipated) before the end of December 2007,
the normal first date for exercise of options will not have been
reached. Your option will become exercisable upon the occurrence
of the merger and will remain so exercisable for a period of one
month following the date on which the merger occurs before it
will lapse and become worthless. You should note, however, that
shares issued by CCU after the merger has taken place will no
longer be listed and freely tradable (unlike share of Holdings
Stock, which will be traded on the Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board). In addition, there is no guarantee that
CCU, Merger Sub or Holdings will offer to purchase them from
you. Accordingly, it is unlikely that you would be able to sell
the shares you receive and for this reason we would recommend
that you think very carefully and take professional advice
before undertaking such a course of action.
We would stress that by making an election you will
safeguard your ability to realise cash for your option. Your
position will not be prejudiced by so doing because you will
still be able to exercise your option if you so wish if the
merger does not happen before the normal exercise date for your
option (1 February 2008 for most people).
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However, if you do not make an election, you may lose the
opportunity to realise cash for your option/option shares, since
your opportunity to exercise your option may then only arise
once the merger has taken place at a time when the shares that
you would receive in CCU will be no longer tradable.
However, it is your decision whether to make an election
for cash or shares of Holdings Stock (or to make no election at
all). We suggest that you contact your stockbroker, bank
manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial
advisor authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act
2000 for advice.
Any payment made in consideration for the surrender of your
option will be subject to UK income tax and national insurance
(whether you elect cash or shares of Holdings Stock). These
liabilities will be accounted for under the PAYE system. These
monies will be deducted from payments (or shares of Holdings
Stock) due to you from Holdings on the cancellation of your
option. Your employer will notify HM Revenue & Customs
of the cancellation of your option.
If the merger does not take place until after the first date for
exercise of your option (1 February 2008 for most
optionholders) and you exercise your option before the
merger becomes effective, there will be no liability to UK
income tax and national insurance on exercise. The exercise
price you pay for the shares of CCU common stock you acquire
upon exercise of the option will determine the base cost of such
shares for capital gains tax purposes. If and when the merger
becomes effective (or earlier, if you sell your shares in the
market), you will be treated as having disposed of your shares
of CCU common stock for the purposes of UK capital gains tax.
Such a disposal may, depending on your individual circumstances
and subject to any available allowances and reliefs, give rise
to a liability to capital gains tax.
If you are in any doubt as to your tax position, or you are
liable to be taxed in any jurisdiction other than the United
Kingdom, you should contact your professional adviser.
If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you
are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately
from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or
other independent professional adviser authorised under the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
It is in your interest to take action in response to this
letter. If you do nothing and the merger takes place, you may
lose the opportunity to realise cash for your option/option
shares.
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